Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left ankle disabilities were denied by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a travel board hearing at the RO in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease. His traumatic arthritis of the left knee remains at a 10% rating, but he is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent. The issue of TDIU prior to October 9, 2003, was also granted.

The Board's June 2009 decision granted service connection for a left knee disability, and the Court dismissed that issue in August 2010. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is now recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee are being remanded due to a need for further development including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his left knee disability and any right knee disorder. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to new evidence and a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 2008 and at 20 percent from July 18, 2008. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for instability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is less likely than not related to service, including his in-service football injury. The examiner concluded that any relationship between the pre-existing condition and service was speculative.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a hearing before the Board at the VA Regional Office in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased evaluation of his back disability and right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is presumed to have been incurred during active military service due to herbicide exposure. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his right knee disability claim and denied all other issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA compensation examinations to determine if the Veteran has current disabilities related to his period of active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and right hip conditions are not secondary to his service-connected right knee condition, and thus denied these claims. The issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension, hemorrhoids, and hiatal hernia were granted service connection with initial noncompensable ratings. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim was denied.